Meles Zenawi
Meles Zenawi was the Prime Minister of Ethiopia from 1995 until his death in 2012, and a significant figure in East African politics. He played a crucial role in the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) and was instrumental in overthrowing the Derg regime in the early 1990s. His leadership was marked by efforts to modernize Ethiopia's economy, though it was also criticized for authoritarian practices and human rights abuses. Zenawi's tenure left a complex legacy, as he was both praised for economic growth and condemned for suppressing dissent.
Not in the pool (under ¢1).
Recent news mentions
The construction of the dam that began in 2011 under Meles Zenawi.
Ethiopia's great dam paves way for talks between Africa, Europe
Kenya· 2025-09-14
Under the leadership of Meles Zenawi, the country developed a strong developmentalist state with requisite capacity to coordinate behaviour at scale.
How the great dam in Ethiopia challenges AfricaKenya· 2025-09-13Ethiopia's late Prime Minister Meles Zenawi oversaw the beginning of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam project.
What it took for Ethiopia to build Africa's largest hydro-electric dam
United Kingdom· 2025-09-09
Meles Zenawi was the Ethiopian dictator who was held to account during an interview with Sackur.
‘I feel really, really cross at incredibly dumb decisions’: Stephen Sackur on the end of HARDtalk – and leaving the BBC | BBCUnited Kingdom· 2025-03-24
